Stock loading chute



Feb.s,1938. lEHDNMN n 2,107,371

STOCK LOADING CHUTE Fld Apvril l, 1 95'7 4 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Inventor Feb. s, 19322..;A

-. E. H. DONNAN STOCK LOADING CHUTE litminl 'mol TN v Feb. 8, 1938. E H DONNAN 2,107,371

, STOCK LOADING CHUTE Filed April l, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 y Inventor Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITEDl STATES PArIli'iNTY OFFICE STOCK V'LO-ADIN G CHUTE Application-'April 1, 1937, Serial No. 134,879

2 Claims.r

This :invention relates to a detachable, pivoted endgate-type collapsible stock loading and unloading chute, and the purpose of the invention is to generally improve upon similar prior patiented and marketed structures by providing an arrangement possessed of appreciable structural distinctions and refinements in keeping with good policy in so far as a structure of this type is concerned.

In reducing the invention to actual practice, I have found it expedient and practicable to utilize an elongated tail gate of a length sulficient to permit it to be swung down to an inclined position whereby to provide a gang-plank, said 151 .'gatebeingprovided with open slatted confining sides pivotally mounted thereon', whereby to provide a simple and satisfactory chute' structure.

One feature of the invention is to provide pivotally mounted confining sides on the gangplank', these being automatically moved to socalled erect position through the instrumentality of springs and being swingable down into overlapping relation when not in use to promote compactness and convenience, and to facilitate folding.

A further feature of constructionhas to do withl the use of exiblefcables .and winding and reeling -drum means provided for cooperation withv the truck body and chute to facilitate raising and lowering the chute.

Affurther feature of. construction has to do with adjustable rod jointing means between the confining side walls and the elongated endgate forming the so-called gang-plank.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a rfragmentary portion of a truck body and illustrating the improved loading chute as constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing it in its useful position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sections on the lines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in cross-section calculated to show how the pivoted or swingable sides may be swung down, against the tension of the springs, into folded compact relation.

Figure 6 is a detail View of the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

Figure 7 is a View of a fragmentary sectional nature showing the structure collapsed and folded up intoend gate'forming position.

Figure 8 is; a detail viewof one of the customary retention hooks for a cross-bar such as is used to hold the endgate in closed position,

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters and to properly illustratethe novelty, I have shown in the drawings a fragmentary portion of what may Vbe called a truck, wagon, or similar vehicle. This is denoted by the numeral '9. It comprises a bottom lll and slide walls l and an under-frame l2. On the under-frame, as shown to advantage in Figure 3, I provide. suitable bearing brackets I3 for a rotary shaft vI4 provided withcable winding drums l5 at ,opposite ends. At one end, that is, at the left inzFigure 3, is a ratchet wheel I 6 mounted on the shaft vand cooperable therewith is a detent or. pawl' il. The numeral IB merely designates the detachable handcrank for setting the shaft and winding drums into motion. The drums are intended to accommodateflexible lifting .and lowering cables. IS shown in Figure 3 trained over fixed guide pulleys 2li.

The sectional collapsible endgate isunitarily referred yto in Figure 7 by the numeral 2|. An outstanding part thereof is the longitudinally elongated board or plank 22 forming the socalled endgate. This is heldin an up and out-ofthe-way position by a removable locking bar 23 supported in suitable suspension hooks or clips 25 on the side walls of the truck.

The gang-plank 22 is provided on its inner or upper side with suitable cleats 25 to facilitate ascension and descension of stock` and cattle. This gang-plank is detachably mounted on the bed or bottom of the wagon, as shown more satisfactorily in Figure 3. Here it will be observed that the gang-plank s provided with eye screws or bolts cooperating with similar fixedly mounted eyes on the adjacent end of the wagon bottom lll. These features form accommodation means for a removable pintle or rod 26. The rod slips through the eyes', referred to by the numeral 2l, and the pintle is held in place by a linchpin or cotter key 28. Along opposite longitudinal sides the gang-plank 22 is provided with distinguishable pairs of miniature posts 29 and 3U which terminate in eyes, which eyes serve to slidably accommodate the assembling and adjusting rods 3|. In connection with the rods 3|, it will be observed that these serve primarily as hinges for connecting the slatted side walls 34 to the gangplank. In accomplishing this, brackets are secured to the lowermost slats and the brackets have eyes 33 projecting beyond said slats, as shown to advantage in Figure 2. The rods 3l are therefore rigidly mounted in these eyes 33 and are rotatably and slidably mounted in the adjacent eyes on the aforesaid posts 29 and 30. Spring means to be hereinafter described serves to maintain the eyes 33 in abutting relationship with the eyes on said posts 29 and 30. Hence, since the side walls 34 are of a length greater than the gang-plank, to allow the inner ends to project into the wagon when the structure is as set up in Figure 2, it is` necessary that said sidewalls should be both slidably and hingedly connected with the gang-plank, for when the side walls are folded into overlapping relation, the gang-plank is swung up to the position seen in Figure 7, the inner ends of said side walls 34 then become substantially flush or even with the hinge means 2S, preventing the side walls from interfering with the closing of the gang-plank when it serves in effect as an endgate.

Attention is now called to the numerals 35 in Figure 5. These designate coil springs anchored on extensions 36 at one end, the extensions being on the bottom of the gang-plank. The opposite ends vare anchored as at 31 on the hing-ed lower end portions of the swingable side walls. The springs serve to automatically swing the sides from the collapsed or folded position shown in Figure to the erect loading position shown in Figure e. In this connection it will be observed that the numerals 38 designate stop fixtures which limit the outward swinging movement of the sides. Then, too, the numeral 39 designates a hinge leaf carrying a hasp or the like 40 which may be carried by the overlapping swingable sides and anchored down in place in any suitable manner (not shown) to hold the sides in collapsed folded position against the tension of the springs as illustrated in Figure 5. Hence, by releasing the hasp 40 from its fastening means, the sides swing out to chute-forming relation with respect to the so-called gang-plank.

It is to be noted that the free ends of the aforementioned cables 29 are fixedly secured as at 4l to the gang-plank so as to bodily hoist or lower the chute in a requisite and convenient manner.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming Within the field of. invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

l 1. An animal loading and unloading chute construction of the class described comprising a longitudinally elongated gang-plank provided along opposite longitudinal edges With eyeequipped brackets, a pair of duplicate spaced parallel side walls, said side Walls being foldable into overlapping relationship with respect to said gang-plank, the lower edge portions of said side walls being provided with eyes registrable with the eyes on said brackets, assembling and pivoting rods extending through the eyes to hingedly mount the sides on the longitudinal edge portions of said plank, said rods being slidably and rotatably arranged in the eyes of the brackets and fastened in the eyes of the side w'alls, coiled springs anchored on said plank and attached to the hinged portions of said sides to automatically lift and swing the sides to vertical usable position, and check devices rigidly mounted on said gang-plank and cooperable with the hinged portions of said sides to limit the outward swinging movement thereof.

2. In a structure of the class described, a gangplank, said gang-plank being provided along opposite longitudinal edges with upstanding fixed posts terminating in eyes, a pair of confining side walls of. a length greater than the gangplank, said side walls being provided adjacent the gang-plank with brackets, and a pair of duplicate rods mounted in said brackets, said rods being disposed in parallelism with respect to the gang-plank and hingedly and slidably mounted in the eyes on said posts and fastened in said brackets, whereby to permit the sides to have the desired hinging and sliding action and springs carried by the gang-plank and fastened to parts of the side walls to control the sliding movement of the side walls and also to hold the side walls in upright position.

EARL H. DONNAN. 

